HONOLULU — President Obama has signed a proclamation marking Hawaii’s 50th anniversary of statehood.

It speaks of how on Aug. 21, 1959, Hawaii was welcomed into the United States “ohana,” using the Hawaiian word for family.
The proclamation said: “The Aloha Spirit of Hawaii offers hope and opportunity for all Americans.”
Noting that he grew up in Hawaii, Obama said he learned from its diversity how different cultures blend together into one population, made stronger by their shared sense of community.
He says America’s youngest state faces many of the same challenges as other states, representing the opportunity to grow and learn from each other.